Will the bailout work?

With Congress set to adjourn next week for the election season, time is short to work out the details of the plan and get it passed.

Congressional leaders, including many key Democrats, had already been considering such a rescue plan, and they indicated quick acceptance of the proposals.

On the sidelines, however, there is deep scepticism on both left and right - with conservative Republicans objecting to any more bail-outs, and many Democrats asking why we should help Wall Street rather than the four million people whose homes are being foreclosed, or repocessed.

And the presidential candidates, who are being left on the sidelines in the negotiations, are also reluctant participants in the process.

Both realise that a sizeable bail-out that commits the Federal government to significant new spending will severely limit their plans - either to cut taxes or to introduce a new health care plan - in the year after the election.

One model being talked about is the Reconstruction Finance Corporation introduced in the 1930s during the Depression. But it should be remembered that in 1933, President-elect Franklin Roosevelt refused to agree a bi-partisan deal with President Hoover to stave off the collapse of the entire US banking system, which shut down completely on the eve of his inauguration.

— Full BBC Story

You Tube and Black Monday

I haven't heard anyone call it "Black Monday" ... YET, however, I checked my stock portfolio and see sound investments slowly sinking, but nothing has gone down the drain. Texas is still looking for FEMA who keeps saying that it is only a couple of hours away and news this morning of school systems paying parents to come to the school to talk about their children's education while paying the students to do well on their tests have me VERY concerned. All this and more bombarding the air waves creates a very sad day here in the Good old U S of A.

So, I'm taking a YouTube break while all this bad news sinks in and letting you in on the ride.

Next of this rollercoaster ride: One of my favorite segments of that political comedy show on HBO, Real Time with Bill Maher. The New Rules segment at the end of every show not only makes me laugh, but makes me think. This YouTube video is no exception. It may be from last season, but it still rings true today, so I'm putting it here.

So, until later today, or more than likely early tomorrow, when I post again ... remember to just keep smiling; people will wonder what you are up to.

New Rules: THE MOVIE Part I

Protests over world's cheapest car

A $2,500 car!

Can you imagine the riots we would have around here?

Well.. looks like low tech and high tech is clashing in India regarding the manufacturing of this vehicle.

Talks are taking place to resolve a dispute over the planned manufacture of the cheapest car in the world.

Protesters claim that 400 acres of farmland was seized from local villagers to build the factory that makes the Nano, produced by India's Tata group.

Violent demonstrations have been taking place outside the plant.

— Karishma Vaswani reports.

Full Video Report